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The article focuses on methodological debates between feminisms and sociologies. It suggests that before the advent of feminist studies, social scientists had not engaged critically with patriarchal and androcentric structures which oppress and dominate women. The article points out that in the feminist approach, theory and praxis are necessarily intertwined. It uses Sandra Harding’s classification of feminist epistemologies as a framework within which to map feminist studies in India. It provides examples of research studies for each methodological approach, discusses the use of feminist methodologies in sociological enquiry and argues for a more gender-sensitive approach in social research. Lastly, it goes on to detail a body of work in feminist ethnography, citing instances of work in different fields that have made inroads using feminist research.

This article will look at the ways in which gendered work is being transformed in contemporary India by focussing on Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana. Since the mid-1990s, after India opened its doors to multinational agencies, new forms of gendered labour have manifested. One of the ramifications of this gendered process is the feminisation of labour that enabled the participation of more women in the work force, engaging in activities that were low-paid. The basis of feminisation is that certain jobs require fewer skills or particular kinds of skills, for which women are thought to be suitable. This also has implications for the low bargaining power of women workers. The feminisation of the labour force in HITEC city, Hyderabad is a consequence of the changing labour markets with globalisation, offshore factories, migration and other changes in the workplace.

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